About Us

Barwon Health supports people’s right to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care. Barwon Health does this by partnering with Consumer Advisors.

Consumer Advisors are involved in many ways across Barwon Health, including as members of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC).

The Community Advisory Committee is a sub-committee of the Barwon Health Board and was established to connect Barwon Health with the community. The committee is comprised of 8 to 12 community members (Consumer Advisors) and three Barwon Health Board members, and meets five times a year.

Meet the Community Advisory Committee

Jason Trethowan, Community Advisory Committee Chair and Board Member

Jason commenced as Chief Executive Officer at headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation in January 2017. Jason has spent most of his career in the health sector where he has been driven by a passion to improve health services and access to care for all Australians. Before beginning at headspace he spent 18 months as CEO of the Western Victoria Primary Health Network and held previous CEO roles from 2007 with the General Practitioner’s Association of Geelong and Barwon Medicare Local. 

Robyn Davis, Board Member

Robyn has practised law since being admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1987. She has a legal practice in Geelong and lives with her husband on the Bellarine Peninsula. Robyn has extensive community interests. She is a member of Women in Community Life Advisory Committee to the Geelong Council; Board Member and former Chairperson of Barwon Centre Against Sexual Assault; Board Member and Secretary of Minerva Family Services. Robyn is also a volunteer legal advisor with Barwon Community Legal Service.

Virginia Todd, Board Member

Virginia has 17 years’ experience working across five departments in the Victorian Public Service. She has worked both centrally and in regions in strategic land use planning, the community services sector, youth programs and on community strengthening programs. Virginia also has an extensive history in service redevelopment of human services programs including foster care, residential based care and family support services. Virginia has experience in local government having been both an elected representative and senior manager. Currently, Virginia is a Senior Project Manager in Regional Development Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs Transport and Resources. 

Current Community Advisory Committee Vacancies

NOW RECRUITING: Consumer Advisors

Barwon Health is now recruiting consumer advisors to join the Community Advisory Committee

It is a priority for Barwon Health to attract, recruit and support Consumer Advisors from:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• People who have a disability, or people who care for someone with a disability
• People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• People from LBGTIQA+ communities
• People with an interest in improving women’s and children’s services
• Young people, including people with an experience of mental health services
• Older people who are interested in shared decision making about their health care

If you are interested in becoming a Community Advisor on the Community Advisory Committee, please read the role description and complete the Expression of Interest form. Applications can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.